Pages

Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Second Acts and comebacks, Part Eight

Former Nantes Manager Jean-Claude Suaudeau had led Nantes to the
French league title in 1983. A few seasons later he was replaced and Nantes was
slowly fading as a force and even near bankrupty.

He was re-appointed Manager and in 1992, he gambled on a class of
graduates from the academy and improved the team’s fortunes.

His new base that included future Internationals such as Christian
Karembeu, Reynald Pedros, Patrice Loko and Nicolas Ouedec helped Nantes to
achieve UEFA Cup Qualifications in successive seasons and ultimately the French
League title in 1995.

Photo
From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 87, April 1996

(Jean-Claude Suaudeau)

2- Giuseppe
Signori and Bologna, 1998

Italian forward Giuseppe Signori had left Lazio midway through the
1997/98 season after realizing he was surplus to requirements of the new
Manager Sven-Goran Eriksson. He landed at Sampdoria and had an equally
uneventful six months.

At the end of the season he joined Bologna. They had been
successful the previous season to rehabilitate Roberto Baggio. Signori adapted
well to the new surroundings and refound his predatory form.

Photo
From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 122, March 1999

(Giuseppe
Signori at Bologna)

3- Carlos
Dunga and Brazil 1993/98

Brazilian midfilder Carlos Dunga had been one of the scapegoats of
the Lazaroni era, which was dubbed as the ‘Dunga era’. (not affectionately).

Upon taking over Carlos Alberto Parreira had even decalred that
the ‘Dunga era’ is over. Dunga himself was struggling at Fiorentina and
Pescara.

He transferred to the German Bundesliga at Stuttgart in 1993. He
slowly regained his old form to become indispensable to Parreira.

He won back his National team spot and even became Team Captain
midway into the 1994 victorious World Cup and remained in the set up until
1998.

Photo
From: The Game, Issue 5, August 1995

(Carlos
Dunga)

4- Michael
Laudrup and Barcelona 1989/94
Denmark’s Michael Laudrup had been disappointing at Juventus for his last
couple of seasons. Johan Cruyff at Barcelona had transferred out Gary Lineker
and sought out Michael Laudrup. The more technical Laudrup flourished in the
new Barcelona set up and had some of his finest years as a Footballer.

Photo
From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 38, March 1992

(Michael
Laudrup at Barcelona)

5- Olaf
Thon and Schalke 1994/98

Olaf Thon was
seen as West Germany’s bright hope in midfield (1986/88). He somewhat stagnated
after his transfer to Bayern Munich in 1988 (beset by injuries).

After switching
to Libero, he somewhat got back in the National team in 1993 to be injured
again. It was at this point that Lothar Matthaus also switched to the Libero
position for club and country to block his path.

Once Thon moved back to Schalke in 1994, he
played as a Libero to such a great effect that he may have extended his own
career. His displays earned him a place in the 1998 Germany World Cup squad as
a veteran (though not as a starter).